working moms

was it hard for you to leave your kid in daycare?did you have a positive experience?
after almost a year, I'm going back to work if I find a job since we definitely need more money.
My daughter will be a year in august and althought that was the agreement, I though I wasn't going back and wish I didn't have to but no one in our family can take care of her.

Re: working moms

It was harder for me than it was for my son!
Thankfully, I had a very positive experience and my son to this day enjoys going back to his daycare for school vacations (he's 7).
Thats the key, you really have to have a connection with the person thats going to care for your child.

Re: working moms

I'm so sorry Tania that you have to go back to work. It's hard regardless of who watches the baby. I know I have better piece of mind that my Mom watches her but it still breaks my heart when she starts in with the ritual tears and wails as I'm waving bye-bye every morning. Personally I sort of wish we had funds to set her up in a daycare program as she got a little older. I think she would benefit from the interaction with other children and the learning experiences she would be exposed to there. It's a tough choice either way. Good luck!

Re: working moms

Even though my FH works nites and stays home with our daughter it was very hard for me to leave her to come back to work. Eventually I am going to put her in daycare I just have to find one that I lke and thats not going to charge an arm and a leg

Re: working moms

I just posted this response on LIW:

I went back to work when my daughter was 14 weeks old. I work 3 days in the office and 2 days from home. The 3 days that I am in the office she goes to the babysitters house. The babysitter watches a few other children part-time ranging in age from 2 - 5. My daugther is now 6 1/2 months old.

Although it was the hardest couple of weeks of my life (going back to work and leaving her in someone else's care), I find it to be so healthy for her. She is thriving. She loves spending time with the other children, and other adults as well. So in the beginning I felt guilty, but now I realize there is no reason to feel guilty - I spend a lot of quality time with her and that is whats important (IMO). At the end of the day when I pick her up I get a big smile, a little giggle and she reaches for me! So although she is in someones elses care during the day, she knows her mommy and I love that feeling.

Re: working moms

I returned to work after 3 months. Initially I had my mother, mother in law and dear friend watch my daughter. After approximately 4 months, we had to put Delaney in day care 3 days a week (my mom & MIL couldn't do it any longer and my friend couldn't pick up the other days - she has 2 girls herself so it would have been too much). In any event, we decided to put her in Tutor Time. At first, we hated the thought of a stranger watching our daughter. Our minds were changed within weeks. It was the best decision we could have made for our daughter. She adjusted more than we did. Now that she's 16 months, what we love most, is that she's with children her own age. As much as I would prefer to have been a stay at home mom, we're more than satisfied with her being in day care. Hope this helps.

Message edited 6/21/2005 2:15:56 PM.

Re: working moms

thank you all.

Re: working moms

it still is hard and my youngest is in Prek. I feel bad when they ask me to pick them up from school when they know I cannt. on monday both my boys had a presentation in school no less at the same time which $ucked and I couldnt take off from work. ( for a variety of reasons but they knew that and I felt so bad). My mom & dad went to my younger sons thing and stopped by my older one and saw a bit of his thing. My SIL & MIL, went to my older one and did the reverse. And my hubby surprised them all. He did both. I didnt even know he was going to do it.

Re: working moms

It was very hard for me to leave Claire at 12 weeks to go back to work and it is still hard for me to go to work everyday now that she is 6 months old. However I think that the hard part is really for me, she seems to do great. Right now she is with my mom 5 days a week. The plan was to have MIL help too but Im not too sure about that, so now I am looking into daycare for 2 days a week.....it does get easier as time goes on. It is just dealing with the guilt of it all that is hard.......

Re: working moms

I switched to part time after Jenna was born. I work the night shift in a hospital (i'm an RN hence my username) and I work 8pm-8am so at least Jenna is asleep during those hours and I don't miss her too much ;)